Effect of different feed grinding fineness on the performances and digestive efficiency of growing rabbits

Abstract

-In this study, two experiments were carried out. In the first experiment, we studied the effect of commercial feeds, differing in the grinding level of their constituents (group C was fed a diet milled with the process used for commercial feeds, group F and group G received the same diet ground more finely or coarsely, respectively), on the growth performances of rabbits and on some characteristics of the caecum and its content. The second experiment, an in vivo digestibility experiment, was carried out to study the influence of the same diets on the digestive efficiency of growing rabbits. The different particle sizes of the feeds did not significantly influence feed intake, weight gain and feed efficiency or slaughtering parameters of growing rabbits. The different grinding levels of the diets did not influence the apparent faecal digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and gross energy. The cell wall polysaccharides digestibility was, however, significantly decreased in the F group rabbits (P < 0.01). The different particle sizes had no effects on the caecal content characteristics nor were anatomohistopathological lesions found. Rabbits exhibit a great capacity to adapt to diets with somewhat different particle sizes. growing rabbit / grinding fineness / performances / digestibility Résumé -Influence de la finesse de broyage de l'aliment sur les performances zootechniques et l'efficience digestive chez le lapin en croissance. Deux essais ont été réalisés afin d'évaluer les effets de la finesse de broyage des ingrédients utilisés pour la formulation d'aliments destinés aux lapins en croissance. Pour le premier essai, 108 lapins sevrés à 35 jours, d'un poids moyen de 994 g répar-tis en trois lots de 36 chacun, ont reçu à volonté pendant 47 jours soit un aliment broyé selon les processus industriels traditionnels (lot C, servant de témoin), soit le même aliment dont les ingrédients Ann. Zootech. 49 (2000) 141-150 141

Effect of a reduction of dietary particle size by substituting a mixture of fibrous by-products for lucerne hay on performance and digestion of growing rabbits and lactating does

“…In our study a minimal proportion of large particles of 20.6% was required to avoid an increase of weight of caecal contents. Previous studies (Laplace and Lebas, 1977;García et al, 1999;Lambertini et al, 2000) have observed an increment of weight of caecal contents, a longer fermentation time and a higher efficiency on fibre digestion when dietary particle size was reduced. In our study, NDF digestibility increased with the reduction of particle size, which is in agreement with the simultaneous increase of caecal VFA concentration and the trend to decrease of caecal pH when particle size decreased.…”

“…The higher accumulation of digesta in the caecum affected negatively feed intake (García et al, 2002) and animal health (Gidenne, 1996). The reduction of dietary particle size by grinding finely the diet has been studied with variable results (Laplace and Lebas, 1977;Morisse, 1982;Gomes et al, 2000;Lambertini et al, 2000). In commercial practice, it is recommended to use sieves with a diameter not smaller than 2-2.5 mm (Mateos and Rial, 1989;Lebas, 2000) to avoid these problems.…”

Effects of the particle of ground alfalfa hay on the growth performance, methane production and archaeal populations of rabbits

“…With the continuous advancement in the development of feed resources, feed nutrient components have become increasingly diverse and complex, and crushing raw materials facilitates more uniform mixing of the components. However, most previous studies of feed stuff particles have focused on sizes larger than 1 mm [ 10 – 12 ]; the effect of fiber particle size less than 1 mm has mostly been ignored.…”

Effect of type of grinding of barley and dehydrated alfalfa on performance, digestion, and crude mucin ileal concentration in growing rabbits1

“…Similarly, other authors Díaz Arca et al, 1989: Lambertini et al. 2000 did not ñiui any influence of feed grinding fiueuess on tlie growth traits of young rabbits.…”